We Need To Put Our Faith Into Action!

When the German poet, Heinrich Heine, first viewed the statue of Venus he cried in despair, “It’s beautiful but it has no hands.”  It was indeed sad that both the arms and hands of this famous statue had been broken off!  “She has no hands!”  Several evangelical leaders in India recently met with pastors in their country and exhorted them by saying, “The reason people in India are not listening to the Gospel we are preaching is because they don’t see in us the compassion of Christ.”  Wow! “They see our buildings, they hear our words, but they do not see us reaching out to people where they hurt.”  What good is our Christian faith if it is not impacting the lives of others for good?  If it is not bringing healing?  blessing?  love?  forgiveness?  deeds of kindness?  “She has no hands.”

It’s amazing the money that some churches spend on buildings, equipment, materials, and resources today.  I’m all for the church being ‘excellent’ in all she does and having the resources to minister effectively.  I’m all for churches having nice buildings and adequate facilities to do the Lord’s work.  There are times, however, when churches become so strapped financially with “so much stuff” that they then do not have the financial means to do community outreach and compassionate care to others.  Too many believers today are content to let their faith ’sit in church’, rather than getting involved in the community where they live.  “She has no hands.”

We need to be putting our faith into action!  Sound doctrine does not just come from the pulpit, but is lived out in the lives of believers as they follow Christ in their everyday lives!  People need to “see” our faith!  People need to “feel” our love.  People need to “experience” our compassion.  THE CHURCH TODAY NEEDS TO BE A PLACE WITH HANDS!  Let’s find new ways to share the love and mercy of Christ with those that live around us!  Put your faith into action!